Teresa's Tessa 8/18 conservative

Welcome to Dodgerslist. My name's Marjorie- what's yours? Good job in getting Tessa into a crate right away!

To be sure I have things straight - your vet didn't give a diagnosis of IVDD, but referred you to Dodgerslist and wants you to treat Tessa as though she has IVDD as it could be the beginning of a back issue. Right?

100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks is the SINGLE most important thing you can do to help your dog-- it is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. Carried in and out to potty. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc.

The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm

The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal.

Can you give us a bit more in essential information about your dog:

-- I don't see where you mentioned that the vet prescribed any type of anti-inflammatory. An anti-inflammatory brings down the swelling in the spine. Did your vet say anything about this? If your vet does prescribe an anti-inflammatory, please include the must have stomach protector such as Pepcid AC … 5mg 30 mins prior to anti-inflammatory med. What dose of Tramadol is Tessa on and how often does she take it?

-- Is there still currently pain? Signs of pain are holding the head in an unusual position...head held high or nose to the ground, shivering/trembling, not wanting to move much or moving gingerly, yelping, tight/tense stomach muscles, holding leg up flamingo style...not wanting to bear weight on the leg, just not their usual perky-interested-in-life self.  There should be no signs of pain between doses of medication. If you see pain starting close to the next dose, then the dose needs to be adjusted by the vet.

-- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk?

-- Can your dog sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up?

-- Eating and drinking OK?

-- Poops OK - normal color, firmness, no dark or bright red blood?

-- I see that she's had a laser light treatment - very good. Dogs can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy. These therapies help relieve pain and to also to kick start energy production in nerve cells to sprout.

Dodgerslist website contains so much information that you need to read up on. Please go through the website and read, read, read so you can become knowledgeable about IVDD. Here are some links to get you started. Please click on all of them to get a good background of understanding.
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm

8 weeks does seem like a long time but you can do it. My Jeremy is just finishing up his 8 weeks for a second disc problem tomorrow. Time passes and it's well worth doing. You've done exactly the right thing by crating Tessa and and as hard as it is, we do it because we love them and it's the best thing for them. We're here for you and will support you and guide you in any way we can. All the best to you both. Oh, and thank your vet for the referral to Dodgerslist!

Teresa, Tessa is is a lot of pain as evidenced by tight tummy, crying, holding leg up not wanting to bear weight. Methocarbamol can help with the pain due to muscle spasms. See if you can get with the vet 1st thing in the am for help in getting her pain under control.

If there is a suspicion of a disc problem, then 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks is required to prevent nerve damage from happening.

A temporary side effect of tramadol can be panting. Maybe a fan near the crate but not pointed at her can help to slightly move the air and make her more comfortable.

Nice to hear your vet recommended our web page! Of course we like to know the name of the clinic.

Wow thank you everyone!! My vet is Dr.Rivers at Orchard Animal Clinic Dallas Oregon. He is a dear friend and a loving vet. I will call in the am for the other pain med. I understand to do both Tramadol and The other one together?

I am choicing conservative care even though they were not sure what is wrong. It just looks as if it could be some kind of back injury or sore musvles. Also laser.
I can't thank you all enough !! I have put down 5 dogs in my life around age ten!! Tessa is only 5! So I would take 5 more years or more.

Oh I forgot!! We have central air conditioning so the air moves around when it is on pretty regularly this time of year. Her panting seems less now that she is resting in one spot!!!!Just whimpers when I leave the room !!! Mommies baby!! Wish me luck tonight. I have a table at the foot of my bed to put the crate on. She is use to being between my knees!!!

Can I say thank you all one more time:)))))))))!!!!!!!!!!!

Let us know of your assessment of pain.. is she still not wanting to bear weight on the leg, still has a rock hard tummy, muscle spasms? What med changes did Dr. Rivers give…dose in mg, frequency and name of med.

Which right leg was/is she holing up front or back right leg?

As Jen says, the first step in healing during a disc episode is to get pain fully under control…then the healing process can begin in comfort.

Flexerol has a warning interaction about using with Tramadol. It is not a good idea to use meds unless specifically prescribed or OK'd by the vet. As usual we want members to be in the habit of Googling each med their dog is on to be in a position to monitor for side effects, know contraindicated other meds, etc. I bookmark this site for my own dog's meds: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html

If this is a disc problem, then the pain is coming from a bad disc pressing on the spinal cord. Swelling/inflamamation in the spinal cord causes pain. Tramadol and methocarbamol are not anti-inflammatories they are pain relievers.

There are two classes of anti-inflammatories that help to reduce the swelling. It can take 1-2 weeks on them to resolve the swelling before pain will stop. It is a good idea to know both classes and the dangers of using them…the need to protect the stomach and to not use them both at the same time. YOu can learn all this here to give you a good basis for talking with your vet about getting an anti-inflammatory on board: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

Pepcid AC (famotdine) is what vets use to protect the stomach when any anti-inflammatory is in use.

Let us know what the vet prescribes with new meds or changes to the existing.

Glad to hear you did keep your vet in the loop about Flexirol. If she can get the pain undercontrol and get the swelling down, she will be a good candidate for conservative treatment.

Go to "profile" > edit profile. THere you will be able to upload a photo as your avatar which will show right under "Talleyteresa"

when you get a chance do let us know the med details: exact names, dose in mg and how often you give them. Pepcid AC containing famotdine is the stomach protector, just don't want you to bring home the wrong stuff! LOL

In addition to putting a picture for your avatar there is another way. First though the avatar photo needs to be about 100-150 pixels wide. You can use this site to custom size your photo first to be an Avatar. www.picresize.com

Now for the other way to upload a photo. YOu upload to any photo site (Costco, Flicker or our Dodgerslist Gallery) Then copy the URL and paste it in your forum post. MOre on Dodgerslist Gallery uploads: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/260/upload-photo-dog

Hi Teresa,

Hope Tessa is more comfortable  now that the Tramadol and Methocarbamol kicked in.. You just started the Prednisone, so it will take some time to get the swelling down which is what is causing the pain.  If she continues to be in pain, call the Vet and ask for adjustments to the pain medications.. She should be pain free from dose to dose  and only then can she begin to heal. 

Do be careful about leaving the door to her crate open on the couch even if she rarely moves..Dogs always do the unexpected.  It only takes a door bell or a noise to get her on the move and she could easily fall. It has happened to other members in the past. 

Sending you and Tessa comforting thoughts..

Hi, my name is Maureen. Setting your clock to remind of pain meds is a great idea! Tramadol can be given as frequently as every 6 hours - consult with your Vet before increasing the frequency though Sometimes pain is a bear to get under control, but once it is, you will notice how much better she is doing.
Keeping you in thought and prayer.

Question? What if your dog needs more time to pee and poop? My Tessa needs more sniff time when she goes out. I keep her in a very small area but she does not go fast!! Ideas?

Hi Teresa! I'm Sabrina. So glad to hear Tessa's pain is controlled!

As for potty time - do you have any wire or plastic push in the ground garden fencing? I made a 6ft across "potty spot" for my Charley and it does help a lot. Charley would much rather wander and sniff and mark in 25 different places, but with the visual barrier of the fencing he pees/poos quicker than he did when I was simply taking him to the same spot before I put up the fencing. (If you don't already have some, the dollar stores in my area still have it in stock, and our Big Lots is having a half off sale.)

))Hugs!((
-Sabrina

The weeks do stretch on, I know. 8 weeks is a long time, but it's time we'll spent. Once you get to the end, it won't seem as long in retrospect. You can, and will, get through it. Plan ahead for some diversions. Think about places you could move the crate to. My dog's favorite is on top of the kitchen table. She can watch me cook, and see things going on outside. Get creative about lo calorie, time consuming treats. Fill a Kong with kibble/carrots/bananas and the like. Use just enough peanut butter to stick things together like mortar on bricks. Then freeze it for awhile. Whole carrots make a good crunchy treat. Likewise sweet potatoes. My girl loves whole snap peas. You get the idea. Don't forget to reward yourself, too!

Make sure that you transport her in a crate, using rolled towels (or what have you) along the sides to support her, and prevent unwanted side to side movement. Take it easy on the corners, and brake carefully.